[Lakelands] Six For Adventure

[Raven Crowking]

A miasma of foul odor swept upward as Kregor removed the first board. A swamp-like smell, perhaps the bodies within rotted by the water, but he swore it had not been there earlier. Looking down, he could see bones and stones jutting from the water. Holding the planks, he lowered himelf his full length before letting go, dropping the last couple of feet into the barrow.

Have I ever told you the story of the foolish orc? whispered a voice in his mind. It mocked the way Kregor heard Gragnor's voice, but the scarred half-orc knew that it was not that of his ancestor. Still, the voice ran on, making it difficult to concentrate. His breath puffed out in cold streams. He paused and glanced around the chamber.

It was ovoid, maybe 30 feet by 20, the ceiling being an arched jumble of stones. A low, dark passage disappeared to the north -- it went downward and to the right a little, blocking Kregor's vision. The passage was no more than 5 feet high. Where Kregor stood, the water came no higher than mid-calf.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

OOC: Hi Sam! Glad to hear you're enjoying the work despite its tribulations.

Check out the links below to see why the following comment got a chuckle out of me:

My brother-in-law is just finishing up his PhD in geochemistry. He's had numerous field trips to exotic locales (Labrador and Costa Rica among others) also. Hopefully you'll enjoy the lifestyle as much as he has.

I'm sure everyone is picturing tropical scenery and sandy beaches.

Labrador
Labrador Highway Clearing

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

OOC: Our daughter arrived yesterday morning (Father's Day!).. everyone is healthy and happy (except for the usual growing pains that comes from the learning curve we're just beginning to climb). I watched the whole thing from front row centre and even caught the baby and cut the cord.. amazing experience!

I've barely slept the last two days, and I'm sure it's not going to get much better soon. I'm still posting, but if I'm not immediately responding, you at least know the reason why.

Do any of you experienced dads know of a good treatment for diaper rash? She's had 7(!) changes so far, and her skin is VERY irritated from our late response on the first few changes (due to our noobness). Our sanity depends on it..

 

[Raven Crowking]

OOC: Our daughter arrived yesterday morning (Father's Day!).. everyone is healthy and happy (except for the usual growing pains that comes from the learning curve we're just beginning to climb). I watched the whole thing from front row centre and even caught the baby and cut the cord.. amazing experience!

I've barely slept the last two days, and I'm sure it's not going to get much better soon. I'm still posting, but if I'm not immediately responding, you at least know the reason why.

Do any of you experienced dads know of a good treatment for diaper rash? She's had 7(!) changes so far, and her skin is VERY irritated from our late response on the first few changes (due to our noobness). Our sanity depends on it..

OOC: Congratulations!

As far as diaper rash goes, there are all kinds of things available at your local drug store or even grocery store. Most of these are (I think) zinc-based. Girl babies are prone to urinary tract infections, too, so wipe front-to-back, not the other way around. These can be pretty painful, but you're unlikely to be able to avoid them with 100% efficiency, so don't beat yourselves up too much. Just do your best, remember than she will begin sleeping through the night, and enjoy the pre-teen years as much as you can!


Daniel

 

[Krug]

Even Glom shivered, the sense of dread overpowering. He watched his companions, suddenly fearful, afraid he would have a knife stuck in his back while he slept.

 

[maddmic]

OOC:
Congrats! Ours is due on the 13th of September....

Also, I updated my character sheet with the XP addition.....

IC:
Kregor tries to shake the voices out of his head. Focussing his attention ahead, he moves to the north following the passage. The half-orc readies his sword and looks ahead to see if there's anything around the bend.

He then calls back to the others in a hushed whisper. "It's a bit short down here. Strange voices in my head. Don't fear though, we have Gragnor's protection aiding us."

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

Hearing Kregor give the all-clear, Horsom climbed down into the dark opening and landed with a small splash in the dank pool below. Hefting his axe in one hand and his torch in the other, he called: "Let me know when the rest of you are ready, and I'll light my torch." Horsom caught his balance as he stumbled against something hard in the water, and grimaced as he imaged what that something could be. He shrugged one broad shoulder, readjusting the positions of the shield and bow strapped to his back. "Hopefully Glom and Dain can tell us more about this construction once they get down here and have a look around."

OOC: Thanks for the congrats. Night 2 wasn't as bad as Night 1. Hopefully that trend continues.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Kregor tried to block the whispering out of his mind, but it was a cold sussuration running beneath his thoughts, seeking to distract him and make him nervous.

He needed to move carefully to avoid tripping or turning an ankle on the uneven footing. Broken rock and fallen stone hid under the dark, scummy water, ready to harm the unwary. He moved carefully to the north, to peer down the only visible passage. The passage was no more than five feet high, and went on a slight slope downward to the right. He could see maybe twenty or twenty-five feet down it before the curvature of the tunnel blocked further vision. Assuming the ceiling height remained the same, the water would be about mid-thigh at the farthest point he could see.

Behind Kregor, Horsom lowered himself into the cold, rank cavern, then dropped. He landed with an audible splash. He lit his enchanted torch with a word of command, and the light reflected off glittering bits of metal and gems in the dark shadows. Most of the items seemed to be ancient and tarnished bronzework, dark-glazed red clay pots, and scattered strings of amber beads -- the grave goods of the warriors who had been buried here. In the light it was easy to see thier rotted bones, fleshless, where they protruded higher than the green-scummed water.

No sooner had Horsom taken in the room than the whispering began again in his mind as well: Even now, it was not too late. Even now. But soon it would be far too late. Soon all hope would be lost. He could take a string of beads for his troubles and be far from here before disaster struck them all....

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

No sooner had Horsom taken in the room than the whispering began again in his mind as well: Even now, it was not too late. Even now. But soon it would be far too late. Soon all hope would be lost. He could take a string of beads for his troubles and be far from here before disaster struck them all....

Though he would never admit it, Horsom had been, up until now, afraid of what might lie in this dark, cold tomb beneath the mill. His upbringing had taught him to fear and respect the ancient druidic gods. The child sacrifices in Kell's Reach spoke to Horsom of Aulshaka's influence, and the thought of facing a servant of this fell and ancient god had awakened a primal terror within him. Up until now.

Whatever lurked within this barrow was weak and puling.. it sought to bribe him to leave it alone! It feared the companions. His warrior's blood boiled; his pragmatic mind, now unclouded from religious awe, sought to break down the information before it. What lurked here? Some malignant fey? Whatever it was, it would rue the day it crossed Horsom Moss' path.

 

[maddmic]

As Kregor kept watch while the others entered the barrow, he thought quietly to himself. 'Perhaps the miller was right and there is a greater evil here. That still does not excuse his part in the murder of children. It only shows how easily we can all be manipulted.' He then looks back at the group. He squints as the torch is lit. He then peers back down the tunnel. and he prays silently. 'Gragnor, protect us as we venture forth into these unknown tunnels. Grant me the strength to hunt down whatever lurks ahead in the darkness. Help me bring protection to this village by destroying whatever menace mocks you.'